The world needs new models of recovery from addiction to alcohol and other drugs. This blog is my classroom, where I learn about the many issues involved in addiction and recovery. You're welcome to look over my shoulder as I learn, and to enter your comments.

Wednesday, October 25, 2006

Wives of Alcoholics Screen Men for Sobriety

So serious is the effect of alcoholism on the Russian economy that an entrepreneur has started a registry of certified sober workers.

Wives of known alcoholics serve on the committee that examines the men for the certificate, because they have the necessary experience to spot the tell-tale signs.

Employers pay a fee to get access to the list of certified sober workers.

Drink has a serious impact on Russia’s economy. A 1995 study found that regular drunkenness affected as many as 60 per cent of manual and 21 per cent of white-collar staff. Source.

About Me

I'm a veteran of the civil rights and anti-Vietnam war movements of the 1960s. I'm clean and sober since October 2, 1992. I've attended well over a thousand secular recovery meetings. I'm one voice among the 60 per cent majority of alcoholics who achieve successful recoveries (>5 years) without participating in Alcoholics Anonymous. I've never attended a meeting of AA or NA. I'm a founding member of LifeRing and served as its CEO until my retirement in 2010. I'm the author of several recovery publications, among other writings. In this blog I speak as an individual and not as a spokesperson for LifeRing. I stopped updating this blog in early 2011, but I'm leaving it up for reference. Anyone interested in taking it over, please contact me.